The 3rd edition of this introductory text on clinical medicine of laboratory animals has been significantly updated, and includes a new study CD of images demonstrating common techniques and strains of various laboratory animal species.
The initial chapters cover an introduction to laboratory animal medicine, United States policies and regulations concerning laboratory animal care and use, facility management and equipment, followed by general outlines of care, management, and diseases of common species, including mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, and nonhuman primates. The text is attractively structured into subsections for quick referencing, and there are numerous black and white line drawings and photographs along with several color plates illustrating concepts discussed in the text. Each chapter concludes with a succinct listing of recommended Internet resources and technical references. An appendix is also included which has normal reference ranges for various clinical chemistry parameters for each species discussed.
The initial chapters on laboratory animal medicine provide an excellent overview of US legislation, regulations, and policy. However, there is no coverage of policies or guidelines regarding laboratory animal care and use outside the United States, and the reader may be disappointed if looking for this information. The ethical discussion surrounding the use of animals for research is superficial and dated, suggesting that the primary reason for substituting rodents for dogs or nonhuman primates in studies is because they are less sentient species.
The chapters on different animal species provide a good summary of basic biological data including behavioral requirements for appropriate housing and a thorough formulary for various therapeutic treatments, as well as recommendations for administering medications and anesthesia, and collecting samples for each species. Reproductive husbandry and radiography techniques are summarized, and recent changes in acceptable treatment and care of laboratory animals are noted. For example, there are good discussions on the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalation for rodent euthanasia and about the common misconception that rodents are not susceptible to secondary post-operative infections. A few areas still require updating, for example, retroorbital bleeding is mentioned as a recommended technique for small rodents, ketamine/xylazine is recommended as an injectable anesthetic regime without mention of ketamine/medetomidine with atipamezole reversal, and the use of ether and chloral hydrate are discussed as acceptable general anesthetic agents for small rodents.
The book is meant to be a guide for veterinarians, students, technicians, and researchers. The content is somewhat superficial as a sole general laboratory animal medicine reference; however, the concise outlines on a range of topics, the CD of images, and the easy to read format make it a recommended addition to an institutional library for teaching and training purposes. Although it is largely geared to laboratory animal practice, there are a number of useful tips and formularies that would also make this a valuable resource for small mammal practitioners.